November 14, 2012

Facebook Stalking App

by Rayshell Clapper

In June of 2012, Facebook unveiled a facebook stalking app. CNN reported about the unveiling that happened on a Monday, and by Tuesday, the app was gone. It was officially called the Find Friends Nearby app. Facebook’s intentions were to allow users to connect with each other should they opt into the app. However, critics quickly dubbed it the facebook stalking app.

These critics feel that the Find Friends Nearby app would allow people to quietly stalk. In other words, this Facebook app could create a facebook stalker or many facebook stalkers. If strangers can find you through the app, then they could possibly know more about you. Obviously, this outcry of criticism worked because I couldn’t find the Find Friends Nearby app anywhere on Facebook.

However, the story is not over. Facebook now has a facebook stalker app called Find Your Stalker. I downloaded it for the sake of research and found that it lists the top viewers to your profile. I guess, should you be concerned about who is searching you out, this app is a good one. It basically shows you a list of who is stalking you on facebook whether that be good or bad. I also feel like if you are concerned about stalkers, perhaps you should not put any information on the world wide web for all to see. If you already have, though, the Find Your Stalker app is available to help you out.

Facebook also has a Who Stalks You app available, which does virtually the same thing as the Find Your Stalker app—it tells you who is trolling your page daily and nightly.

Stalking is a very big deal whether in person or virtually. Writing this article has made me slightly uncomfortable to know that people use Facebook as a means to stalk others. I am very happy that Facebook took down the alleged facebook stalking app formally known as Find Friends Nearby, but I have no doubt that several other apps exist that might do something like that. Of course, with most of these applications, one must opt in to the app in order to have access to it, but that does not make me any more comfortable.

Social media like Facebook are meant for connecting, but connection does not mean stalking. Should you be concerned at all that someone is stalking you on facebook, then you need to report the misuse to Facebook and possibly the authorities. No one should feel violated…not even on Facebook.

Rayshell E. Clapper is an Associate Professor of English at a rural college in Oklahoma where she teaches Creative Writing, Literature, and Composition classes. She has presented her original fiction and non-fiction at several conferences and events including: Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, Howlers and Yawpers Creativity Symposium, Southwest/Texas Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association Regional Conference, and Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference. Her publications include Cybersoleil Journal, Sugar Mule Literary Magazine, Red Dirt Anthology, Originals, and Oklahoma English Journal. Beyond her written works, she successfully created a writer's group in rural Oklahoma to support burgeoning writers. The written word is her passion, and all she experiences inspires that passion. She hopes to help inspire others through her words.